
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with sound libraries, and boosting visibility for composers of color.
By
Editorial Staff
March 14, 2025
What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. In this installment, get to know violinist and composer Rachel McFarlane, an eighth-semester dual major in film and media scoring and games and interactive media scoring (GAIMS) from Canada.
Follow Rachel on Instagram, LinkedIn, and her website.
Rachel McFarlane
Image by Teddy Kent
Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?I started writing for live ensembles when I was 16. After gaining some recognition in Canada, I realized I wanted to pursue composition after high school instead of my initial path, violin performance. I graduated in May 2020, and if there was one thing COVID gave me (and many others), it was time. I used that time to research schools around the world to figure out where I wanted to go.
That summer, I took two Berklee five-week programs online: the High School Composition Intensive and Film, TV, and Game Scoring Program in LA (though in reality, the latter took place in my living room). While the first program focused more on live concert music, I really connected with the film scoring course because it showed me just how much music can enhance storytelling. I learned so much about film technology, music, and emotional landscapes in such a short time that Berklee quickly became my top choice.
Whats been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you?Audio Foundations for Interactive Media with Gina Zdanowicz was an absolute blast. As a composer, most of my classes focus on music, but this course showed me how much energy goes into sound design for video games. We explored how to add our own foley and sound effects using [software programs] FMOD and Unity, and even got the chance to create audio assets for game developers at USC. It was a really cool experience getting to see how music and sound design come together in interactive media.
Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been especially excited about?It's not just one project, but I've really enjoyed collaborating with sample libraries like Orchestral Tools on social media. Their Berlin Orchestra Library that they developed with Berklee is a part of our school bundle, but beyond that, I've had the privilege of creating mockups for film and video game scenes using their other libraries. It's been an awesome experience, and I highly recommend their tools for anyone working in composition or sound design!
How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?Fitness is a big one for me! it's a great way to reset after long stretches of work, and I tend to get the best ideas when I compose right after a workout. I also try my best to just enjoy video games without overanalyzing the horizontal sequencing or RTPCs [Real-Time Parameter Controls] (hahaha).
When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most?The people who inspire me most are musicians of color who have continued pursuing music while questioning whether it was a realistic career path for them. I'm on track to be the first Black student to graduate with the GAIMS major and the GAIMS/film double major, which is really exciting! I try to use my social media platforms to educate and be a source of visibility for my community, so others know that people like me exist in these spaces, and that we've always been here.
My first Black violin teacher was Tanya Charles, and before her, I had never seen anyone who looked like me in classical music. She, along with incredible composers like Chanda Dancy, Amanda Jones, EmmoLei Sankofa, and Kathryn Bostic, have been a huge inspiration. Having the privilege to meet and learn from artists like them reassures me that I'm on the right path.
Whats one piece of advice youd give to your high school self?I would tell them that at this point in your career, you've had the privilege of meeting so many musicians and composers that you look up to, and even they don't have it all figured out. So don't stress about trying to control everything! Uncertainty and curiosity are key parts of the creative process so learn to embrace the unknown.
Rachel McFarlanes Top Five Film and Game ScoresWe asked Rachel to give us five of her favorite media scores. Heres what she said:
1. Reborn, Colin Stetson, from the film Hereditary
2. All About Reggie, Kris Bowers, from the TV show Dear White People
3. Felixs Suite, Anthony Willis, from the film Saltburn
4. Mud and Blood, Johan S derqvist and Patrik Andr n, from the game Battlefield 1
5. Frostfall, Jeremy Soule, from the game Skyrim
Related Categories
News
Student Spotlight
Most Popular
Toto in the recording studio from Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary.
Photograph by Jim Hagopian/HBO
The Best Music Documentaries on Every Streaming Platform Explore groundbreaking music documentaries streaming across Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. From intimate artist portraits to legendary concert films, discover the stories behind your favorite artists and iconic moments.
Latest
Matanzas Sound Map on display at Tate Modern in 2025.
Tate / Reece Straw
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate Modern's East Tank Blending field recordings, video projections, and glass sculptures, the installation immerses visitors in the sonic landscapes of Matanzas, Cuba.
B
More from Berklee
19/04/2025
Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...
18/04/2025
Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition.
By
Maddie...
18/04/2025
Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...
17/04/2025
In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...
17/04/2025
Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...
16/04/2025
Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...
12/04/2025
Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...
11/04/2025
Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...
05/04/2025
Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...
04/04/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...
03/04/2025
Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...
03/04/2025
Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...
03/04/2025
Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...
02/04/2025
Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...
28/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...
28/03/2025
Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee.
By
Colet...
28/03/2025
Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA.
By
Colette Greenstein
...
26/03/2025
New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...
22/03/2025
Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...
21/03/2025
Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...
21/03/2025
PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...
21/03/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...
20/03/2025
Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...
19/03/2025
Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...
19/03/2025
Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...
17/03/2025
BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...
15/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...
14/03/2025
Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
11/03/2025
New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...
11/03/2025
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...
10/03/2025
Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...
06/03/2025
Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...
06/03/2025
Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...
03/03/2025
The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world.
By
Sarah Godch...
03/03/2025
Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen.
March 3, 2025
Alexis Scheer
Photo by Gabriel...
27/02/2025
Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...
26/02/2025
Berklee College of Music and Red Bull Collaborate for Red Bull Scoring Challenge The challenge encourages Berklee students to push creative boundaries in orch...
26/02/2025
Berklee Establishes Dickey Betts Memorial Endowed Scholarship A star-studded concert this Friday in Georgia will raise proceeds for the scholarship honoring t...
25/02/2025
Roberta Flack, a Legend that Transcended Generations, Dies at 88 The R&B singer best known for Killing Me Softly with His Song and Feel Like Makin' Love ...
25/02/2025
Berklee Presents Mambo Mania: Eguie Castrillo and His Big Band All-Stars The Signature Series Concert will honor legendary salsa musician Tito Puente.
By
Co...
24/02/2025
David Lynch's Music Was as Unsettlingly Brilliant as His Films The late auteur's film legacy was cemented in productions like Twin Peaks and Blue Velv...
22/02/2025
Brittany Haas Awarded 2025 Eisenson Family Prize for American Roots Music An internationally renowned fiddler, Haas will engage with Berklee students during a...
21/02/2025
Alum TK Johnson Backs Bartees Strange for a Tiny Desk Instant Classic The drummer has been playing with Bartees since 2022, and also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel ...
20/02/2025
Berklee Ensemble for Musicians with Disabilities Is Stronger for Our Differences Associate Professor Adrian Anantawan, who founded Berklee's Music Inclusi...
19/02/2025
Berklee Ensemble for Disabled Musicians Is Stronger for Our Differences Associate Professor Adrian Anantawan, who founded Berklee's Music Inclusion Ensemb...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...